Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo, Egypt

When you find yourself in chaotic Cairo the first thing you need to check off the list is the pyramids. After that, it should be the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali opened in 1848. If you’ve been to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (that’s Constantinople for all my Greek readers) you’ll notice it looks extremely similar. This was an intentional allusion to the former Greek-Orthodox Church (now mosque) in Turkey.

In the above photo you can see a Sahn. Sahn’s are essentially a courtyard adjoined to the larger prayer hall. Here you’ll generally find fountains and ornate architecture. The fountains serve both as beauty and as a symbol of ritualistic cleansing before prayer.

Admittedly, I was a little nervous visiting my first mosque. My entire experience in Egypt was filled with hospitality, and my visit to the mosque was no exception. While women are requested to cover their heads, it is not required. Almost all women I saw did choose to cover their heads during their visit. You are required to remove your shoes upon entry to the interior or pay 5 EGP for plastic shoe coverings.

I’d suggest spending an hour at the mosque to walk around the grounds and take in the sweeping views of Cairo.